Volume 4, Issue 2 (April 2025)                   Health Science Monitor 2025, 4(2): 103-111 | Back to browse issues page


XML Print


Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

Aghilinejad M, Farhadi M, Ganjedanesh M, Bahrami-Ahmadi A, Eslami M, Kassiri N. Associated factors of nonspecific low back pain in occupational health settings. Health Science Monitor 2025; 4 (2) :103-111
URL: http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-212-en.html
Occupational Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract:   (258 Views)
Background & Aims: Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal issues, significantly impacting workers’ quality of life and occupational productivity. This multifactorial condition arises from a combination of occupational, lifestyle, and individual factors. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of NSLBP among workers.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 406 participants, including 202 workers with NSLBP and 204 without. Demographic and occupational questionnaires, along with the Work Ability Index and Job-Related Physical Demands scales, were completed by all participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.
Results: Significant associations were identified between longer weekly working hours (p < 0.001), lack of physical activity (p = 0.001), and exposure to occupational hazards (p < 0.05) and NSLBP. Workers exposed to these factors were at a higher risk of developing NSLBP.
Conclusion: NSLBP is significantly associated with a combination of individual and occupational factors. The findings highlight the necessity of preventive interventions, including ergonomic workplace improvements, reduced weekly working hours, and the promotion of regular physical activity. These results can inform occupational health policies and enhance workers’ quality of life. However, the study’s limitations, including its cross-sectional design and relatively small sample size, should be considered when interpreting the findings.
Full-Text [PDF 295 kb]   (58 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Research | Subject: Occupational Health
Received: 2024/12/3 | Accepted: 2025/02/17 | Published: 2025/04/30

References
1. Andersson GBJ. Epidemiological features of chronic low-back pain. The Lancet. 1999; 354(9178):581-5. [DOI] [PMID]
2. Farrokhi F, Ghahramani A, Orujlu S, Hajaghazadeh M. Evaluation of time spent in high strain postures among nurses and laboratory technicians: implications for ergonomic interventions. Health Science Monitor. 2024;3(3):234-42. [DOI]
3. Murray CJ, Vos T, Lozano R, Naghavi M, Flaxman AD, Michaud C, et al. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions. The Lancet. 2012; 380(9859):2197-223. [DOI] [PMID]
4. Shahin MA, Bhuiyan R, Ara R, Islam MN, Choudhury MR, Haq SA, et al. Risk factors of non-specific low back pain in a rural community of Bangladesh: A case-control study. F1000Research. 2022;11(871):871. [DOI]
5. Knezevic NN, Candido KD, Vlaeyen JWS, Van Zundert J, Cohen SP. Low back pain. The Lancet. 2021;398(10294):78-92. [DOI] [PMID]
6. Balagué F, Mannion AF, Pellisé F, Cedraschi C. Non-specific low back pain. Lancet. 2012; 379(9814):482-91. [DOI] [PMID]
7. Chiarotto A, Koes BW. Nonspecific low back pain. New England Journal of Medicine. 2022;386(18):1732-40. [DOI] [PMID]
8. Palacios-Ceña D, Albaladejo-Vicente R, Hernández-Barrera V, Lima-Florencio L, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Jimenez-Garcia R, et al. Female gender is associated with a higher prevalence of chronic neck pain, chronic low back pain, and migraine: results of the Spanish National Health Survey, 2017. Pain Medicine. 2021;22(2):382-95. [DOI] [PMID]
9. Rezaei B, Mousavi E, Heshmati B, Asadi S. Low back pain and its related risk factors in health care providers at hospitals: A systematic review. Annals of medicine and surgery. 2021;70:102903. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
10. Malińska M, Bugajska J, Bartuzi P. Occupational and non-occupational risk factors for neck and lower back pain among computer workers: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics. 2021; 27(4):1108-15. [DOI] [PMID]
11. Dzakpasu FQ, Carver A, Brakenridge CJ, Cicuttini F, Urquhart DM, Owen N, et al. Musculoskeletal pain and sedentary behaviour in occupational and non-occupational settings: a systematic review with meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2021;18:1-56. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
12. Ho EK, Chen L, Simic M, Ashton-James CE, Comachio J, Wang DX, et al. Psychological interventions for chronic, non-specific low back pain: systematic review with network meta-analysis. bmj. 2022; 376:e067718 [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
13. Christe G, Crombez G, Edd S, Opsommer E, Jolles BM, Favre J. Relationship between psychological factors and spinal motor behaviour in low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain. 2021;162(3):672-86. [DOI] [PMID]
14. Heuch I, Heuch I, Hagen K, Zwart J-A. Physical activity level and risk of chronic low back pain: a follow-up in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study. PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0175086 [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
15. Gibbs MT, Hayden JA, Cashin AG, Shah B, Gilanyi YL, Natoli A, et al. Are Exercise Interventions in Clinical Trials for Chronic Low Back Pain Dosed Appropriately to Meet the World Health Organization's Physical Activity Guidelines? Physical Therapy. 2024;104(1):pzad114. [DOI] [PMID]
16. Roggio F, Trovato B, Ravalli S, Di Rosa M, Maugeri G, Bianco A, et al. One year of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: effect of sedentary behavior on physical activity levels and musculoskeletal pain among university students. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2021;18(16):8680. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
17. Daniels C, Huang GD, Feuerstein M, Lopez M. Self-report measure of low back-related biomechanical exposures: clinical validation. Journal of occupational rehabilitation. 2005;15(2):113-28 [DOI] [PMID]
18. Youden WJ. Index for rating diagnostic tests. Cancer 1950 https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(1950)3:1<32::AID-CNCR2820030106>3.0.CO;2-3 [DOI] [PMID]
19. 3(1):32-35 https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(1950)3:1<32::AID-CNCR2820030106>3.0.CO;2-3 https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(1950)3:1<32::AID-CNCR2820030106>3.0.CO;2-3 [DOI] [PMID]
20. Ramezani M, Taghizade G, Abdolvahab M, Lajavardi L, Saeidi Brojeni M. Investigating of risk factors related to chronic non-specific low back pain in military men. Journal of Modern Rehabilitation. 2015;9(3):54-63. [Google Scholar]
21. Tuomi K. Work ability index. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. 1998. [Google Scholar]
22. Amiri S. Longer working hours and musculoskeletal pain: a meta-analysis. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics. 2023 Jan 2;29(1):1-6. [DOI] [PMID]
23. Voglino G, Savatteri A, Gualano MR, Catozzi D, Rousset S, Boietti E, Bert F, Siliquini R. How the reduction of working hours could influence health outcomes: a systematic review of published studies. BMJ open. 2022 Apr 1;12(4):e051131. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
24. Shiri R, Coggon D, Falah-Hassani K. Exercise for the prevention of low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. American journal of epidemiology. 2018 May 1;187(5):1093-101. [DOI] [PMID]
25. Van Poppel MN, Koes BW, Smid T, Bouter LM. A systematic review of controlled clinical trials on the prevention of back pain in industry. Occupational and environmental medicine. 1997 Dec 1;54(12):841-7. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
26. Dean E, Söderlund A. What is the role of lifestyle behaviour change associated with non-communicable disease risk in managing musculoskeletal health conditions with special reference to chronic pain?. BMC musculoskeletal disorders. 2015 Dec;16:1-7. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
27. Oakman J, Ketels M, Clays E. Low back and neck pain: objective and subjective measures of workplace psychosocial and physical hazards. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. 2021 Oct;94(7):1637-44. [DOI] [PMID]
28. Oakman J, Neupane S, Nygård CH. Does age matter in predicting musculoskeletal disorder risk? An analysis of workplace predictors over 4 years. International archives of occupational and environmental health. 2016 Oct;89:1127-36. [DOI] [PMID]

Add your comments about this article : Your username or Email:
CAPTCHA

Send email to the article author


Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

© 2025 All Rights Reserved | Health Science Monitor

Designed & Developed by : Yektaweb